Jill has been involved and loved basketball since 1958. First in Feilding where she played rep and in 1962 the Feilding team won both the North Island B Grade Tournament and the B Grade Nationals in Nelson going through unbeaten. Jill was selected along with several other Feilding team members to play in the North v South game, winning 54 – 44.
In 1964 she came to play in Mt Maunganui, played rep for the Mount. In 1965 Jill also played club in Tauranga and she was selected to play rep for Tauranga Indoor Basketball.
Jill has taken part in running miniball, secondary school competitions and refereeing all grades. Tauranga Basketball committees, coached age group and women’s rep teams. She coached Otumoetai College Girls and went to Secondary School Nationals several years running.
Masters basketball has played a big part in Jill’s life with playing, being involved in Atomic Masters Tournaments, (started in 1988 and ran for 30 years), travelling to NZ Masters and to Australia to Masters tournaments.
Jill has been involved since 2016 in Tauranga City Basketball Walking Basketball which is called SWISH (Senior Women into Shooting Hoops) and is the Walking Basketball convenor.
Jill was awarded Life Membership to Tauranga Basketball in 2005.
In 2021 Jill was awarded the BBNZ Cedric Cudby “Volunteer of the Year” Award for 2019, delayed by Covid. A well deserved award for her years of tireless work.
Trish Muir is our longest serving basketball member – from 1957 to present day 2025.
She played rep basketball from 1960 for many years and was in the 1961 winning Tauranga team which won both the North Island and National B Grade tournaments.
Trish has served on many committees within Tauranga Basketball, both administration, miniball and Masters. From 1976 – 1983 Trish was involved in running Miniball, in administration, refereeing and coaching.
With her Atomic team members she has played in NZ Masters Games since 1989 and travelled to Australia several times to attend Masters Games. She was also involved in starting Atomic Masters Annual tournament which started in 1988, and ran for 30 years.
Latterly, since 2016, she has become a valued member of Tauranga City Basketball Walking Basketball group known as SWISH (Senior Women into Shooting Hoops).
Trish was awarded a Life Membership in 1995 by the Tauranga Basketball Association.
In 2024 Basketball New Zealand recognised Trish with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Judy Castles involvement spans 40 years, when she first played at secondary school in Murupara and, short of suiting up for the Tall Ferns there isn't much she hasn't achieved in the intervening years.
Still enjoying participating in the SWISH walking basketball programme. Winner of the Zena B Gay award, Basketball NZ's highest honour for a female - has been a school and rep coach, an executive member of Tauranga City Basketball as a vice-president and secretary/treasurer, Basketball Bay of Plenty board member, a national title winner with Tauranga back in the 80s, tournament controller for tournaments, an active referee and a driver behind women's basketball in the region.
Looking back, 40 years does seem like a long time but not all that was administration - I picked up a basketball at Rangitahi College and loved the game from the start.
Highlights are plentiful I am particularly proud of getting basketball included on Sport Bay of Plenty's CoachForce programme and helping lobby council for the 9 court stadium at Baypark.
Remedying our lack of court space in the city by pushing for the new nine-court indoor stadium was huge and is now a great community space enjoyed by people of all ages.
Glennis Matenga was also another who gave such a lot to basketball. She went from being a volunteer to Club Rep, board member, junior development officer, rep team fundraising, manager, ran venues and did draws with Hilda and Basil Marsh. She also became a badge holder referee, scorebenched and coach for Junior Girls rep team for the inaugural junior secondary schools tourament in Tauranga. Involved in the formation of Little League in 1994. Such a worthy Life Member.
Hilda Ross played a huge part in basketball committees for years and was President in 1986 - maybe for longer. She formed the Takitimu Club which set up club teams, tournaments under the Takitimu name. Her organisational skills were incredible as she was also involved in netball. Hilda was also involved in starting Masters Basketball in the mid 1970's which had a huge following. It was for 35 plus players and played on Sunday nights. At one time there were up to 16 teams playing in the league.
Petra Osbourne moved to Tauranga from Nelson in 1960, where she joined Tauranga BBA to make friends, played in the local league and joined the rep basketball not long after. She was one of the founding members of the Tauranga Miniball Club and was on the junior Miniball committee. Here she held many roles, coaching, refereeing and floor controlling.
She then joined the committee of Tauranga Indoor Basketball Association, whilst raising her children. Here the association hosted big National tournaments, American teams playing one-off games – basketball was a growing sport in Tauranga. Petra played, refereed and coached (Tauranga Girls College).
Petra was then involved in the Masters Basketball playing in Masters tournaments both in NZ and Australia. Petra’s other interest was tennis, she was a top player and played for BOP for many years. She would also play tennis at these Masters tournaments, winning many medals and titles.
Petra was made a life member of the Tauranga BB Association in the 2000’s.
Crosbie R Randle was the first President of Basketball when it was first recorded in Tauranga in 1938.
It was American Basketball Association then and became Tauranga Indoor Basketball Association in 1945 - he was President until into the 1950's.
Crosbie R Randle was made a life member in May 1950.
Reg Towers played, refereed and coached from the 1940's - 1960's. He was also a a selector for both men and women teams and in 1960 was a selector and coach for Tauranga Men. Reg served on many committees and in 1954 became President for Tauranga Indoor Basketball Association.
Reg was also a NZIBA Official Referee and officiated at National and International level. He travelled to Australia with the NZ Men's team.
Michael Foster was made a Life Member - sometime in early 1960's.
Michael was a past President of Tauranga Indoor Basketball Association in 1961-1962, possibly longer.
While Michael was a President he and his committee wanted to buy the Memorial Hall in the mid 1960s but due to opposition it nevert came to be.
Michael was also a National and International Referee from the 1950's - mid 1966's and was the first NZ International Referee to travel with a NZ Men's team in 1965 to Australia. He travelled again with the team in 1966.
Jean Prentice became a Life Member in the mid 1960's. Jean served on committees, played club and rep for Tauranga, etc
